Irradiating apparatus



June 9, 1931. c. E. BILLS IRRADIATING APPARATUS Filed June 10, 1929 WAN.

Patented June 9, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFF-ICE CHARLES EVERETT BILLS., 0F EVANSVILLE, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR TO MEAD JOHNSON & COMPANY, OF EVANSVILLE, INDIANA, A CORPORATION 0F INDIANA IBRADIATING APPARATUS Application led June 10,

This invention relates to irradiating apparatus and is particularly adapted for use in the irradiation of fluids and'of substances carried in solution.

The main object of the invention is to provide apparatus simple in construction, in which the matter to be irradiated is exposed to light rays so as to yreceive the full benefit thereof in a very eficient manner and without exposure to air during the period of irradiation.

The apparatus has been used to advantage in the irradiation of solutions of ergosterol in arachis (peanut oil), but obviously other edible oils, preferably bland vegetable oils, or other solvents may be used; and the invention is equally useful 'for irradiating oils and other fluids not containing added ergosterol.

It is old in the art to provide irradiatmg apparatus such as a quartz mercury vapor lamp and to locate the same in any desired position relative to a receptacle .containing the substance to be treated. In using such apparatus, the relative positions of the lamp and the receptacles are not always arranged to the best advantage for the intended purpose, and the treated substance may be exposed to air, which is to be avoided, especially in the case of oils which become rancid when exposed to ultra-violet light and air.

One example of a type of lamp heretofore used for ultra-violet irradiation is that known as the Kromayer lamp, made by the Hanovia Chemical and Manufacturing Company, which consists of a quartz burner containing the mercury and electrodes, a quartz jacket surrounding the burner but spaced therefrom to provide a vacuum chamber between the burner and the j ack'et, and an outer casing of metal, having inlet and outlet ports. This outer casing is spaced from the quartz jacket and thus provides ay chamber or passageway for water whichis circulatedthrough the chamber for cooling the burner. Of course, the water does not touch the burner because it is separated therefrom by the quartz jacket and vacuum chamber. Heretofore such lamps have been placed in any desired position relative to a receptacle con- 1929. serial No. 369,556.

taining the substanceto be irradiated, and the light rays from the burner pass through the quartz jacket, through the water used for cooling the lamp, and then through a win'- dow in the metal housing to the matter being treated.

I have somewhat modified a lamp of this type to adapt it for4 use in the apparatus of the present invention, wherein the ergosteroloil solution or other fluid to be irradiated is caused to circulate through the lamp in order to receive the benefit of the ultra-violet light from the quartz burner in a most eiiicient and uniform manner, without exposure to air. The arrangement also obviat'es the necessity for water cooling the lamp.

In the drawings Figure 1 shows an elevation, partly in sec. tion, of the apparatus embodying my invention;

In that embodiment of the invention shown in the drawing, 5 is a support, such as a table, having mounted thereon a standard 6 :which supports a reservoir 7 for containing the fluid to be treated. Above the reservoir 7 is a receptacle 8 containing a coil 9. The reservoir 7 has a cover l0 which may be removed when it is desired to lill the reservoir at the beginning of the process and there is an agitator 11 mounted inthe cover 10 and depending therefrom into the reservoir. The agitatorv 11 is operatively connected by gearing 12 and belt 13 with the shaft 14 of the motor 15, through speed reduction gearing (not shown) located in the housing 1 At the bottom of -the reservoir 7 is an outlet port and conduit 17 leading to the pump 18, which is also operatively connected with the motor 15. 19 indicates an ordinary pressure gauge in a conduit 20 leading from the pump and 21 is an adjustable by-pass inserted in the line of i'low so that if the pressure should become too great the excess flow of liquid is returned to the reservoir 7 through the by-pass conduit22.

The `conduit 30 extends to the quartz mer# cury vapor lamp 23 which is tiltably mounted on any suitable, support (not shown) by a movable joint 24. The quartz burner, indi-l cated at 25, containing the mercury and elec- Y the chamber 29 through the inlet port and the conduit 30 being connected to the outlet port. The electrodes of the burner are imbedded in an oil-.insoluble compound or cement, such as De Khotinsky cement, and only cork gaskets are used in order to adapt the lamp for having oily fluids circulated therethrough.

The conduit 30 extends from the outlet port of the lamp to the cooling coil 9 in the receptacle 8 and the coil 9 extends downwardly through the cover 10 of the reservoir. Water or other cooling medium is circulated through the container 8 from the supply inlet 31 to the outlet conduit 32.

The reservoir 7 is also provided with an inlet conduit 33 through which an inert gas, such as` carbon dioxide or nitrogen, may be i11- troduced into the reservoir to occupy the space above the level of the fluid which is being treated. 34 indicates an outlet valve to drain the system. I

Y The operation of the device is as follows The ergosterol-oil solution or other fluid is placed in the reservoir 7, which is in communication with a supply of inert gas through conduit 33. -The lamp 23 is supplied with current through the wires 26. It is necessary to tilt a lamp of this type on the joint 24 in order to start it. The motor 15 is put into operation to actuate the pump 18 and the agitator 11, causing the fluid to pass at a predetermined speed of flow through the conduit 20 and into the chamber 29 of the lamp. The rate of flow is regulated by the operation of the pump and pressure gauge so that the oil never gets hot as it passes through the chamber 29. When it has passed through the chamber 29 and out into the conduit 30, it is only slightly warm and then it is cooled by passing throughthe coil 9. From there it is returned to the reservoir 7 and the operation is repeated.

The circulation 'of the oil solution is.- continued as long as is necessary to obtain good activation. For example, to activate twoliters of a solution of ergosterol consisting of ten grams of ergosterol in two liters of arachis oil, using a modified Kromayer lamp at normal voltage, requires about three hours. However, the time of activation depends on many factors, such as voltage, age and condition of the lamp, concentration of the ergosteral solution, rate of circulation through` the lamp, purity of the solvent, etc.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the chamber between the burner and the lamp casing, and inlet and outlet conduits between the lamp chamber and the reservoir, and means for repeatedly circulating the fluid through the lamp chamber.

2. Irradiating apparatus comprising a reservoir for' theV fluid to be treated, a quartz burner lamp having a casing, a burner, a chamber between the burner and the lamp casing, and inlet and outlet conduits between the lamp chamber and the reservoir, means for repeatedly circulating the fluid through the lamp chamber, and means for cooling the fluid after it has passed through the lamp chamber.

3. Irradiating apparatus comprising a reservoir for the fluid to be treated, an agitator in the reservoir, a quartz burner lamp having a casing, a burner, a chamber between the burner and the lamp casing, and inlet and outlet conduits between'the lamp chamber and the reservoir, and means for repeatedly circulating the fluid through the lamp chamber, and for actuating the agitator.

4. Irradiating apparatus comprising a reservoir for the fluid to be treated, a quartz burner lamp having a casing, a burner, a chamber between the burner and the lamp casing, and inlet and outlet conduits between the lamp chamber and the reservoir, means for repeatedly circulating the fluid through the lamp chamber, and means for regulating the speed of liow.

5. Irradiating apparatus comprisinga reservoir for the fluid to be treated, a quartz burner lamp having a casing, a burner, a chamber between the burner and the'lamp casing, and inlet and outlet conduits between the lamp chamber and the reservoir, means for repeatedly circulating the fluid through the lamp chamber, and means for supplying inert gas to the reservoir above the level of the fluid. 6. Irradiating apparatus comprising a reservoir for the fluid to be treated, a quartz burner lamp having a casing, a burner, electrodes for the burner imbedded in oil-insoluble cement, a quartz acket surrounding the burner but spaced therefrom, a chamber between the quartz jacket and the lamp casing, inlet and outlet conduits between the lamp chamber and the reservoir, and means for re- .peatedly circulating the fluid through the nlamp chamber.

7. Irradiating apparatus comprising a reservoir for the fluid to be treated, a quartz burner lamp having a casing, a burner, electrodes for the burner imbedded in oil-insoluble cement, a quartz jacket surrounding the burner but spaced therefrom by a vacuum, a chamber between the quartz jacket and the lamp casing, inlet and outlet conduits between the lamp chamber and the reservoir, and means for repeatedly circulating the Huid through the lamp chamber.

8. Irradiating apparatus comprising a reservoir for the fluid to be treated, a quartz burner lamp having a casing, a burner, electrodes for the burner imbedded in oil-insoluble cement, a quartzy jacket surrounding the burner but spaced therefrom, a chamber between the quartz jacket and the lamp casing, inlet and outlet conduits between the lamp chamber and the reservoir, means for repeatedly circulating the fluid through the lamp chamber, and means for cooling the fluid after it has passed through the lamp chamber.

9. Irradiating apparatus comprising a reservoir for the iuid to be treated, a quartz burner lamp having a casing, a burner, electrodes for the burner imbedded in oil-insoluble cement, a quartz jacket surrounding the lburner but spaced therefrom by a vacuum, a

chamber between the quartz jacket and the lamp casing, inlet and outlet conduits between the lamp chamber and the reservoir, means for repeatedly circulating the fluid throu h the lam chamber, and means forcoolin t e Huid a er it has passed through the amp chamber.

10. Irradiating apparatus comprising a reservoir for the fiuid to be treated, a quartz `burner lamp having a casin a burner, electrodes for the burner imbe ded in oil-insoluble cement, a quartz jacket surrounding the burner but spaced therefrom, a chamber between the quartz jacket and the lamp casing, inlet and outlet conduits between the lamp chamber and the reservoir, means for re atedly circulating the Huid through the amp chamber, and means for supplyin inert gas to the reservoir above the level of t e iuid.

In testimony that I claim the fore oing as my invention, I aiiix my signature, t is 28th day of Ma 1929.

cARLEs EVERETT BILLS. 

